greeksoup/ stock research

Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 29 January 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 new, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth-quarter earnings rose 7.4%: Net income available to common shareholders was $164.6 million, or $2.56 diluted EPS, against $153.2 million, or $2.36, a year earlier. Source
  • Average loans up 6.5% year over year: Average loans reached $21.7 billion, up 1.0% from the third quarter's $21.5 billion. Source
  • Net interest income rose 8.6%: Taxable-equivalent net interest income was $471.2 million, up $37.5 million, and up from $463.7 million in the third quarter. Source
  • Margin at 3.66%: Net interest margin was 3.66%, up from 3.53% a year earlier and down from 3.69% in the third quarter. Source
  • Expenses rose 10.6%: Non-interest expense was $371.7 million, up $35.5 million from $336.2 million a year earlier. Source
  • One-time items totaled $16.2 million: Items were a payroll transition bonus, a Frost Charitable Foundation donation, a medical insurance reserve accrual and sundry losses, partly offset by an $8.5 million reversal of a special FDIC assessment accrual. Source
  • Repurchased $80.7 million of stock: The company bought 653,913 shares in the fourth quarter; full-year repurchases totaled 1.20 million shares at an average $124.67. Source

“We carry great momentum with us as we enter 2026 and continue executing on a number of strategic growth initiatives,”

Cullen/Frost Chairman and CEO, Phil Green

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Common dividend Sourcefirst quarter of 2026$1.00 per common shareKept
Series B Preferred dividend Sourcepayable March 16, 2026$11.125 per share of Series B Preferred Stock ($0.278125 per depositary share)Kept
Share repurchases Sourceone-year program expiring January 27, 2027up to $300 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Board approved a new share repurchase program of up to $300 million over one year. Source
  • Ended: The 2025 Repurchase Plan completed its $150 million authorization in the year. Source

Earnings and returns

  • Fourth-quarter earnings rose 7.4%: Net income available to common shareholders was $164.6 million, or $2.56 diluted EPS, against $153.2 million, or $2.36, a year earlier. Source
  • Full-year earnings rose 11.5%: 2025 net income available to common shareholders was $641.9 million, or $9.92 diluted EPS, compared with $8.87 for 2024. Source
  • Return on common equity at 14.80%: Fourth-quarter return on average common equity was 14.80% and return on average assets 1.22%, against 15.58% and 1.19% a year earlier. Full-year figures were 15.66% and 1.24%. Source

Loan and deposit growth

  • Average loans up 6.5% year over year: Average loans reached $21.7 billion, up 1.0% from the third quarter's $21.5 billion. Source
  • Deposits up 3.5% from a year earlier: Average deposits reached $43.3 billion, up 3.0% from the third quarter, with non-interest-bearing and interest-bearing balances each rising about 3%. Source
  • Full-year loans and deposits grew: 2025 average loans were $21.2 billion, up 7.3%, and average deposits were $42.2 billion, up 3.0%. Source

“Frost bankers throughout the state remain squarely focused on making our customers' lives better and supporting their growth in an increasing range of ways over time.”

Cullen/Frost Chairman and CEO, Phil Green

Net interest income and margin

  • Net interest income rose 8.6%: Taxable-equivalent net interest income was $471.2 million, up $37.5 million, and up from $463.7 million in the third quarter. Source
  • Margin at 3.66%: Net interest margin was 3.66%, up from 3.53% a year earlier and down from 3.69% in the third quarter. Source
  • Deposit costs lower than third quarter: Total deposit cost was 1.17%, against 1.30% in the third quarter and 1.42% a year earlier. Interest-bearing deposit cost was 1.75%. Source

Fee income

  • Non-interest income up 7.6%: Non-interest income totaled $132.2 million, with trust fees, service charges and derivatives trading income among the contributors. Source
  • Service charges up 15.9%: Service charges on deposit accounts rose $4.5 million from the fourth quarter of 2024. Source
  • Trust fees rose on investment management: Trust and investment management fees rose $1.9 million, including a $2.3 million increase in investment management fees. Source

Non-interest expense and one-time items

  • Expenses rose 10.6%: Non-interest expense was $371.7 million, up $35.5 million from $336.2 million a year earlier. Source
  • One-time items totaled $16.2 million: Items were a payroll transition bonus, a Frost Charitable Foundation donation, a medical insurance reserve accrual and sundry losses, partly offset by an $8.5 million reversal of a special FDIC assessment accrual. Source
  • Salaries and benefits rose: Salaries and wages rose on merit and market increases and higher headcount, including $4.2 million of the payroll bonus. Benefits rose 28.1%, mainly medical and dental. Source

Credit quality

  • Credit loss expense rose to $11.2 million: Net charge-offs were $5.8 million, or 0.11% of average loans annualized, against $6.6 million in the third quarter. Source
  • Allowance at 1.29% of loans: The allowance for credit losses was 1.29% of total loans, down from 1.31% at September 30 and 1.30% a year earlier. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • CET1 ratio at 14.06%: CET1 was 14.06%, Tier 1 14.50% and total 15.95%, against 14.14%, 14.59% and 16.04% in the third quarter. All remain above well-capitalized levels. Source
  • Repurchased $80.7 million of stock: The company bought 653,913 shares in the fourth quarter; full-year repurchases totaled 1.20 million shares at an average $124.67. Source
  • Dividends rose in 2025: Cash dividends for 2025 totaled $3.95 per common share, up from $3.74 in 2024. Source

Strategy, locations and headcount

  • Ten new financial centers in 2025: Fourth-quarter openings were in Austin, Dallas and San Antonio, bringing the 2025 total to ten new locations. Source
  • Organic growth strategy continues: Management said it continues to execute its organic growth strategy and believes the approach is durable and scalable. Source
  • Headcount rose with expansion: Higher employee numbers were partly tied to organic expansion in various markets, alongside annual merit and market increases. Source

Coming up, as management said on 29 January 2026

  • Common dividend payable March 13: First-quarter 2026 common dividend of $1.00 per share is payable March 13, 2026, to holders of record February 27. Source
  • Preferred dividend payable March 16: Series B Preferred Stock dividend is payable March 16, 2026, to holders of record February 27. Source
  • Repurchase program may be suspended: The $300 million one-year program may be suspended or discontinued at any time, with timing set by management. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Net interest margin Source3.66%
Net interest income Source$471.2 million
Loans (period-end) Source$21.9 billion
Loan growth Source6.5% year over year (average loans)
Deposits (period-end) Source$42.9 billion
Deposit costs Source1.17% total deposits
Provision for credit losses Source$11.2 million
Net charge-offs Source$5.8 million (0.11% annualized)
Nonperforming assets Source$70.5 million non-accrual loans (0.32% of total loans)
CET1 ratio Source14.06%

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Non-accrual loans rose from the third quarter to $70.5 million, or 0.32% of total loans, though below the year-end 2024 level. Source
  • External: Investment management fees move with the market value of customer accounts, so fee income is affected by equity and bond price changes. Source
  • Operational: A $4.0 million accrual relates to a software platform no longer aligned with the long-term technology strategy. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: The 2025 repurchase plan finished its $150 million authorization, with 1.20 million shares bought for the year. Source
  • Not stated: Management refers to continuing execution of its organic growth strategy, without a status update. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.